Development camp -- Day 2

Blue Jackets development coach Tyler Wright was entertaining questions on Tuesday about the franchise's recent draft picks when the topic turned to seventh-round selection Kyle Neuber.

Wright conceded he hadn't scouted the forward, but he has "seen his YouTube clips."

Some clips they are.

Neuber, the son of a bouncer, is a rugged player who as one member of the organization put it, "doesn't need an invitation." The Sarnia, Ontario native can flat out throw them, especially the uppercuts. Neuber is participating in the Jackets development camp and, if the organization loses Jon Mirasty to free agency, might get a shot to play in minor-league Syracuse next season.

The 20-year-old winger is 6-foot-2 and thick. He is not lanky like Jared Boll or a bulldog like Derek Dorsett. There are some who will argue the Jackets have guys willing to fight, but no one who intimidates an opponent.

Quite frankly, I think the need to have an enforcer is a bit overblown. The Red Wings have made two straight finals without a tough guy. The Penguins didn't have one this season.

{UPDATE: Poorly worded sentence on my part judging by the comments. I was trying to convey the fact that neither team relies on fighting. The Red Wings were last in regular-season fighting majors with 11 -- the No. 29 team Carolina, had 26 fighting majors. They also were last in the 2007-08 season. The Penguins ranked 23 this past season, although I had forgotten about Eric Goddard, who was busy in the regular season with the sixth most fights. Goddard did not dress for a playoff game. }

Wright sees Neuber as an "intriguing player."

He had nine goals and three assist to go along with 135 PIMS in 59 games for Mississauga. Neuber said a knock against him in his first season of juniors (2006-07) is he lacked confidence.

That no longer sounds like the case.

"I think I can bring a lot of grit to the organization," Neuber said. "I believe I also can bring a lot of heart and character and intangibles that help a team. I'm a winner and my work ethic is second to none."

Neuber grew up a fan of major junior hockey and he loved watching his hometown Sarnia Sting. As a freshmanr, he reveled in the toughness of the Sting squad that included former Blue Jacket Dan Fritsche. Neuber said some of the Sting tough guys gave him a few pointers as it pertained to fistcuffs.

Much like Boll, Neuber says he never fought away from the rink.

"I don't fight with anger," he said. "I think (hockey fighting) is a sport in itself. You don't need to be a guy growing up in a scrappy neighborhood to fight. There always have been different type of fighters."

He concedes some of his pugilistic success is genetic.

"I have to thank my mom, she gave me some good genes, she was big and my dad was a scrappy guy," Neuber said. "My uncle told me my dad was a tough guy and nobody wanted to mess with him (in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario). He was a bouncer up there."

Chewables, nuggets, etc

-- Mirasty is believed to be looking for a two-way deal. He's been on a minor-league contract with the Crunch.

-- The Crunch has signed forward Brock McBride.

-- One player catching the attention of the organization is 6-foot-3 defenseman Lee Baldwin. He is a training camp invitee and plans to play next season at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. Baldwin has stood out both days.

-- The John Moore-Theo Ruth defensive pairing has looked good. In 4-on-4 drills, Moore jumped into a hole to set up a scoring chance, then was back in time to defend the ensuing rush. The kid has terrific skater. -- Poor Kevin Lalande, who the organization really likes, is attending his fifth developmental camp. He attended four in the Calgary organization. "I think I'm developed," he said.